Gynecological instrument



July 16, 1935. R A BACHMANN 2,008,380

GYNECOLOGICAL INSTRUMENTl Filed DeC. 20, 1934 INVENTOR.

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Patented July 16, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,008,380` A lemmacomarcal. INSTRUMENT Robert Alexander Bachmann, New York, N. Y.'

Application December 20, 1934, Serial No. 758,407

e claims. (c1. 12s-121) 'I'his invention relates to an improved gynecological instrument, the principal object of the invention being to provide an instrument for facilitating the easy introduction and correct placement of uteral supports.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an instrument of the character set forth by means of which an elastic, non-irritating pessary or uteral support is compressed into the smallest possible compass and is presented in such position during its linsertion into the vaginal canal that when ejected from the instrument it will automatically and under its own elasticity assume its proper position around the cervix of the uterus, thereby affording maximum comfort to the patient.

In the drawing accompanying this specification,

Fig. 1 is a horizontal side view of an instrument embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view looking at the left-hand end of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the instrument, showing the piston completely retracted and the collapsed uteral support in position in the instrument;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the instrument similar to Fig. 3 but showing the piston in the position it occupies at the time the support is ejected; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the support, showing the same after it has resumed its normal configuration upon ejection from the instrument.

Referring to the drawing, A designates a form of uteral support, which is commonly used for supporting the uterus, the said support comprising a member of substantially hemispherical form, made of soft elastic material such as rubber, and having at its edge an annular bead or rim of substantial diameter in cross section and having suflicient elasticity to resume its normal configuration as shown in Fig. 5 thereby to encircle the cervix of the uterus and afford maximum comfort.

The subject-matter of the present invention is an instrument for compressing the support into a small compass thereby to facilitate its insertion and to place it in proper position thereby eliminating as far as possible the use of the fingers for positioning the support. As shown in the drawing, the instrument comprises a hollow head I having at one end thereof an integral tubular extension 2 and at its opposite end a pair of oppositely disposed legs 3 spaced apart from each other. The extension 2 is provided at its end remote from the head I with an integral knob 4 carrying a pair of cppositely disposed radially extending finger-engaging members 5. The inner surfaces of the legs 3 are concave to conform to the convexity of the bead A of the support. A 5 plunger 6 is mounted for reciprocatory movement within the extension 2 and is provided with a piston 1 disposed for reciprocation between the legs 3, the face of said piston being also of concave formatiomas shown in Fig. l, to conform to the curvature of the uteral, the sides of the piston being fiat and its ends curved to correspond with the curvature of the inner surfaces of the legs 3. At its opposite end the plunger is provided with an operating head or knob 8, the outer surface 15 of which is depressed or dish-shaped to receive the thumb of the operator.

When the instrument is to be used, the piston is to its innermost limit. 'Ihe operator then takes the support A between his thuinb and index finger and compresses the bead and inserts it between the legs 3, the thin body of the collapsed support passing into the space between the legs 3 at one side thereof, all as indicated in Fig. 3. The operator then takes extension or shank 2 5 between the index and second flngers of one hand so that the members 5 rest on said fingers. He thereupon inserts the head I carrying the compressed support into the vaginal canal and by a gentle pressure of his thumb on the surface of the knob 8, the plunger is caused to move forward thereby ejecting the support, which, due to its own elasticity, resumes its normal shape as indicated in Fig. 5, so that its bead encircles the cervix of the uterus and forms and effective and comfortable support therefor.

It will be observed that the head I and its legs 3 are of such contour as to pass readily into and out of the vaginal passage without discomfort or injury to the patient. It will be understood, of course, that the instrument may be made of any suitable material, such for instance as silver, hard rubber or any material that will permit of sterilization, and the inner surfaces of the head, legs and piston are readily accessible for facilitating the cleansing of those surfaces.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An instrument of the class described comprising a rigid hollow head having a pair of 50 the pessary body projecting through one of said slots, and means to engage the inner end of the doubled rim portion to push the pessary out of engagement by the instrument.

2. An instrument of the class described comprising a rigid hollow head having a pair of opposed longitudinal slots extending from the forward end of the head whereby to form a pair of spaced legs at the forward end of the body, said legs being adapted to grasp a doubled` portion of a p essary rim with a doubled portion of the pessary body projecting through one of said slots, the confronting faces of said legs being transversely concave to fit partially around the pessary rim, and means to engage the inner end of the doubled rim portion to push the pessary out of engagement by the instrument.

3. An instrument of the class described comprising a rigid hollow head having a pair of opposed longitudinal slots extending from the forward end of the head whereby to form a pair of spaced legs at the forward end of the body, said legs being adapted to grasp a doubled portion of a pessary rim with a doubled portion of the pessary body projecting through one of said slots, the confronting faces of said legs being parallel transversely concave to fit partially around the pessary rim, and means 'to engage the inner end of the doubled rim portion to push the pessary out of engagement by the instrument.

4. An instrument of the class described comprising a rigid hollow head having a pair of opposed longitudinal slots extending from the forward end of the head whereby to form a pair of spaced legs at the forward end of the body., said legs being adapted to grasp a doubled portion of a pessary rim with a doubled portion of the pessary body projecting through one of said slots,

a tubular stem extending from the rear end of the body in axial alignment therewith, a rod slldable in said stem and projecting into the body, a head on the forward end of the rod, and an operating handle on the rear end of said rod.

5. An instrument of the class described comprising a rigid hollow head having a pair of opposed longitudinal slots extending from the forward end of the head whereby to form a pair of spaced legs at the forward end of the body, said legs being adapted to grasp a doubled portion of a pessary rim with a doubled portion of the pessary body projecting through one of said slots, the confronting faces of said legs being transversely concave to fit partially around the pessary rim, a tubular stem extending from the rear end of the body -in axial alignment therewith, a rod slldable in said stem and projecting into the body, a head on the forward end of the rod, and an operating handle on the rear end of said rod. l

6. An instrument of the class described comprising a rigid hollow head'having a pair of opposed longitudinal slots extendingfrom the forward end of the head whereby to form a pair of spaced legs at the forward end of the body, said legs being adapted to grasp a doubled portion of a pessary rim with a doubled portion of the pessary body projecting through one of said slots, the confronting faces of said legs being parallel transversely concave to fit partially around the pessary rim, a. tubular stem extending from the rear end of the body in axial alignment therewith, a rod slldable in said stem and projecting into the body, a head on the forward end of the rod, and an operating handle on the rear end oi.' said rod.

ROBERT ALEXANDER BACHMANN. 

